Mikael Samuelsson is Red Wings' secret weapon

AP Photo Teammates say Detroit winger Mikael Samuelsson, left, is playing with increasing confidence. He scored the winning goal in the first two games against the Blackhawks.

DETROIT -- Mikael Samuelsson apparently is a beast at boule, the French version of Italian bocce.

At least that is what he told Detroit Red Wings teammate Andreas Lilja a couple years ago. Samuelsson said he once played in the Swedish championship of the game, which is played with metallic balls on a dirt surface.

Samuelsson is pretty good in hockey, too. Not as good as he realizes, though, according to Red Wings coach Mike Babcock.

"Sammy's one of these guys that's a way better player than he believes," Babcock said. "If he had the confidence in himself that some of these other guys do, he'd be a high-end NHL player. Right now, he's just a good NHL player."

Whether Samuelsson, 32, breaks through to the next level the way Detroit's Johan Franzen did last season remains to be seen. But he has made a huge impact in the Western Conference finals against Chicago.

Samuelsson has scored the winning goal in each of the two games in the series, including an overtime tally in Tuesday's 3-2 Game 2 victory. He has scored a goal in each of the past three games, and all five of his playoff goals have come in the past eight games.

"He's good offensively, good defensively," Babcock said. "He has a rocket of a shot, we're always on him to shoot the puck more. He's a huge man, absolutely a monster, so he can be real physical when he wants to be. He can really skate."

By Babcock's description, Samuelsson would warrant star status. And yet, he is considered a supporting player on this team, playing mostly as the right wing on the third line with Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler -- the combination that teamed for the overtime goal -- and manning the point on the second power-play unit.

After bouncing around between four NHL teams and two AHL clubs in four seasons, Samuelsson blossomed as a player in Detroit, which signed him cheap during training camp in 2005.

Hakan Andersson, the Red Wings' director of European scouting, saw Samuelsson play in Sweden during the lockout in 2004-05 and thought he was regaining his confidence.

Samuelsson's main job is to shoot the puck, and teammates have confidence in his ability.

"He's so strong, he's kind of like Hoss (Marian Hossa), he doesn't need the big windup," Kirk Maltby said. "When he needs to get it off quick, he can get it off quick and hard and accurate. Sometimes, it's not about how hard you put it in there. Sometimes, he gets it into the right spot at the right time and the puck will have eyes and find its way in."

Kris Draper said Samuelsson appears to be playing with as much confidence as he has had in his career.

"He's very strong on the puck, he holds onto the puck and is very confident he's going to make the play," Draper said. "When he has an opportunity to shoot inside the hash marks, he can shoot it."

Despite his upside, Samuelsson's time in Detroit might be over after the playoffs. He is an unrestricted free agent. And if the Red Wings re-sign Hossa, they would not be able to retain Samuelsson and Hudler, among others, under the salary cap without trimming another significant player or two.

Samuelsson and most of the players were given the day off Wednesday, a much-needed respite to recharge. They will practice today in preparation for Game 3 on Friday at the United Center.

Lilja and Samuelsson live "100 meters apart" on the same street and room together on the road. They first met as teammates in Florida for half of the 2003-04 season.

"He's grown as a player, a person," Lilja said. "I always knew he was a good player."